Aralia californica

Striking 3-6' tall clumps of huge divided leaves are topped with ball-like umbels of white flowers on this western native perennial. PSh/M-W

One of very few West Coast members of the family. Delightful perennial in sun or shade; stemless with 3 ft+ leaves with multiple leaflets. Bright yellow fall color is a good contrast to red stems and purple-black berries. Summer drought tolerant but easy with moisture. USDA Zone 6 or lower.

This large dramatic winter deciduous perennial, grows to about 6' x 6' and can reach as much as 8' around. Elk clover is native to shaded stream banks throughout western California, Despite its streamside habit, Elk Clover will do well in any soil that does not dry out completely. In the summer, small white flowers appear in globes, ripening into small purple fruit that birds have a appetite for. Great for a woodland garden. Throughout western and central California and into Oregon. Birds eat the berries and it is deer resistant Aralia californica is in the Ginseng family and has medicinal uses as a tonic. Found in it is more common in cooler, moister areas in northern california, especially in the san francisco bay area. Communitites located in Yellow Pine Forest, Foothill Woodland, Chaparral, Valley Grassland, wetland-riparian At elevations below 6500 ft.

Blooms: summer-fall, white, black fruit/ large foliage, herbaceous, deciduous Zone 6-9. 6', CA,OR, shade-sun, moist, well drained

Our collection in the Siskiyous up 8 Dollar Road on a bench just above a stream in open light shade growing with Darmera and Lilium pardalinum ssp. vollmeri. Big compound pinnate leaves and terminal spikes of small airburst white flowers turning to black fruit. Herbaceous.

I love to see this Aralia when I’m out hiking because it means I’ve reached a cool, moist, shady spot to rest in. Often growing next to a stream the lush, deeply lobed 3’ long leaves arch gracefully out from shady hillsides. Beginning in June, 2” pom-pom clusters of white flowers emerge, then in the Fall they develop into very ornamental dark purple berries. The berries are offset nicely by the stems that begin to turn reddish at the same time. And the berries are loved by birds. Aralia californica grows to 8’ wide & 8’ tall, but goes dormant in the winter. Native to California & Oregon. Used in herbal anti-inflammatory remedies.